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Just read this article in the Huffington Post, “The Truth About Breastfeeding.” The author outlines 11 things she wished she had known–wished someone had told her. It is funny and cute, and it may be true…. Do we hide the “truth” about breastfeeding and mothering, for that matter, both can be difficult, hard, rewarding and the best thing you ever do (talk about conflicting)???

It can be hard and challenging in the beginning and every time someone tells you, “if it hurts you are doing it wrong” may feel like a knife in your heart. Is there an assumption since breastfeeding is natural, it should happen naturally?

Breastfeeding is a learned art; it takes time to get it right and you and the baby are learning at the same time. It does get easier but as you sit there with your nipples bleeding you may not find comfort in that.

My advice–be prepared and GET HELP as soon as possible. Don’t be afraid to reach out with questions and concerns. Join a support group–breastfeeding/mothering support groups are a wonderful way to meet other moms going through the same thing–after all “misery loves company”–kidding aside, there is something invaluable about knowing someone else feels the same way you do and more importantly seeing the light at the end of the tunnel–meeting the moms who have gotten past that point, who are “in love” with breastfeeding who can share their “I remember when” stories.

I am a self proclaimed health food nut and this article in yesterday’s New York Times caught my eye, “Looking Inside the Twinkie.” It was a blog interview with author Steve Ettlinger about his book, “Twinkie, Deconstructed.” I thought this was a new book but I found it was actually published in 2007 when I looked for it on Amazon (why is the kindle version more expensive than the hardcover?). This book looks like a good read. We eat far too many processed foods and these foods do not hold a nutritional value for us. Here is a great quote from yesterday’s article:

“They get hard, but they don’t spoil. I’ve got a bunch of them scattered around my office. I’ve got one from 2005 in my hand. It’s a little hard. I don’t think I’d want to eat it. It’s solid, but it hasn’t spoiled. As part of my research, I made Twinkies at home. We made cake from scratch with whole-food ingredients. It was yellow cake and cream filling from whipped cream with sugar and vanilla. It was absolutely delicious, and we devoured most of them right away. I wrapped one in plastic wrap and put it aside, and it was solid green in a week.”

What we put in our bodies is important–what we give our children to eat is even more so.

Just read a great article about how parenting can help prepare children for school–I would take it a step farther and say that parenting prepares children for life. Unless your children are going to live like a recluse or maintain an anti-social lifestyle, teaching children to interact with others, be respectful of others, and empathetic (empathy is one of the most important traits that I want to instill in my boys) are important tools for a meaningful existence. This article from Australia was focused on school, but I really wished they focused on the broader picture, http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/lifestyle/a/-/health/12652204/good-parenting-helps-prepare-children/

My boys and I talk about everything. Simple things that seem so obvious to me. For example, if you have been invited to a party, you should not talk about the invitation or party at school in front of others who may not have been invited. It would hurt their feelings. About how to be inclusive and not exclusive. Treating everyone nicely. How to mediate, how to stand up for yourself AND others. Often we will read articles, books, or see something on TV and discuss the human reactions. I want my boys to be caring, kind, generous, and grateful.

I would love to see more articles about topics like this with concrete ideas for parents.

I love the idea of discussing “life scenarios” with kids–what would you do? Why? How would that make you feel? How would that make someone else feel? Why? Ethical solutions, empathy, and living as if you are not the only person in the world is one of the best gifts we can give our children.

Yesterday I posted information on how important it is for families who choose or need to formula feed to have the proper information on preparation. For infants receiving powdered or concentrated formulas how to reconstitute and add water is a crucial step in formula preparation. Not only does the water source need to be clean and pure and at the right temperature (when making powdered formula the temperature of the water needs to be at least 70 degrees Celsius), you need to add just the right amount of water.

“Two-thirds of the families in the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program – which provides nutrition basics for low-income women with children – reported running out of WIC-supplied formula toward the end of most months. Among food-insecure families, 27 percent reported watering down formula or reducing feedings, a practice that can have serious health consequences for babies’ developing brains, leading to cognitive, behavioral and psychological issues.”

The governmental program, WIC, has been criticized for not supporting breastfeeding and for being the number one purchaser of formulas, but you can see from the outcomes of the recent study highlighted in the article that others can argue this supplemental program does not do enough for those families who choose or need to formula feed. In an ideal culture where breastfeeding was the norm, where it was promoted, supported and protected by all perhaps we would not have this issue; however, for families who have chosen to use formula maybe because of challenges they face coordinating work schedules and other employment issues perhaps the supplement is not enough.

I have been searching for an easy to use guide for parents who need to use formula. Formula requires special preparation, whether you are using a ready to feed preparation, a concentration, or a powdered formula.

Many are not aware that powdered formula is not sterile and can contain bacteria. The World Health Organization has a wonderful publication regarding powdered formula, but it is quite lengthy and may not easily be understood by everyone in all cultures (in my opinion), Safe preparation, storage and handling of powdered infant formula:Guidelines (the guide is 25 pages long). Here is an excerpt regarding the possible contamination of powdered formula:

“Powdered infant formula (PIF) has been associated with serious illness and death in infants due to infections with Enterobacter sakazakii. During production, PIF can become contaminated with harmful bacteria, such as Enterobacter sakazakii and Salmonella enterica. This is because, using current manufacturing technology, it is not feasible to produce sterile PIF. During the preparation of PIF, inappropriate handling practices can exacerbate the problem.”

Sterilization and cleanliness are important when preparing formula for a newborn. The water source you use must be safe. In underdeveloped areas of the world where clean water is not readily available and rates of dysentery, illness that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration, are high breastfeeding may safe many lives. However, having clean water and preparing formula in developed areas still requires careful preparation.

Many hospitals/health care professionals do not always prepare families who choose to formula feed or those who need to formula feed how to properly prepare. Ready to feed formula is very expensive and most families will choose to use the concentrated or powdered formula in order to cut costs. Health care professionals must support all families and providing education regarding formula preparation for those who need it is essential.

For those who need the information, please take a look at the “Guide for Bottle Feeding” prepared by UNICEF, I think you will find it very helpful.

The Magical Hour after birth–skin to skin is where our babies belong. So happy to announce that Dr. Kajsa Brimdyr is one of our guest speakers at the annual Monmouth/Ocean Breastfeeding Consortium Conference on August 1, 2012–always a perfect way to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week.

The first hours after birth are a developmentally distinct time for a baby and there are well documented short and long term physical and psychological advantages when a baby is held skin to skin during this time.

When a baby is in skin to skin contact after birth there are nine observable newborn stages, happening in a specific order,

that are innate and instinctive for the baby. Within each of these stages, there are a variety of actions the baby may

demonstrate.

Stage 1: The Birth Cry
The first stage is the birth cry. This distinctive cry occurs immediately after birth as the baby’s lungs expand.

Stage 2: Relaxation
The second stage is the relaxation stage. During the relaxation stage, the newborn exhibits no mouth movements and

the handsare relaxed. This stage usually begins when the birth cry has stopped. The baby is skin to skin with the mother

and covered with a warm, dry towel or blanket.

Stage 3: Awakening

The third stage is the awakening stage. During this stage the newborn exhibits small thrusts of movement in the head

and shoulders.This stage usually begins about 3 minutes after birth. The newborn in the awakening stage may exhibit head

movements, open his eyes,show some mouth activity and might move his shoulders.

Stage 4: Activity
The fourth stage is the activity stage. During this stage, the newborn begins to make increased mouthing and

sucking movements as the rooting reflex becomes more obvious. This stage usually begins about 8 minutes after birth.

Stage 5: Rest
At any point, the baby may rest. The baby may have periods of resting between periods of activity throughout the first

hour or so after birth.

Stage 6: Crawling
The sixth stage is the crawling stage. The baby approaches the breast during this stage with short periods of action

that result in reaching the breast and nipple. This stage usually begins about 35 minutes after birth.

Stage 7: Familiarization
The seventh stage is called familiarization. During this stage, the newborn becomes acquainted with the mother by

licking the nipple and touching and massaging her breast. This stage usually begins around 45 minutes after birth and

could last for20 minutes or more.

Stage 8: Suckling
The eighth stage is suckling. During this stage, the newborn takes the nipple, self attaches and suckles. This early

experience oflearning to breastfeed usually begins about an hour after birth. If the mother has had analgesia/anesthesia

during labor, it may take more time with skin to skin for the baby to complete the stages and begin suckling.

Stage 9: Sleep
The final stage is sleep. The baby and sometimes the mother fall into a restful sleep. Babies usually fall asleep about

For those that know me or follow me on The Lactation Lady Facebook Fanpage, you know healthy eating choices and healthy living choices are a passion of mine; hence, the career supporting breastfeeding. The article outlined the author’s response to last months Daily Livestock Report (pdf of report available from a link in the article). The reasons why meat consumption have dropped and continue to drop (and are expected to continue to drop) did not include HEALTH REASONS. You would have to be living in a bubble not to know that current diet recommendations for healthy living focus on plant based eating and reducing (or in some cases [particularly cardiac related cases] eliminating meat)—Welcoming the rise in vegetarian eating, Meatless Mondays, the push for Forks over Knives–the movement to reduce the amount of meat people consume for health reasons.

There will be those holdouts–just like there are still plenty of people who choose to smoke and/or consume fried foods (you can insert any non-healthy vice here [please note, I recognize that no one, myself included, is perfect])–but hopefully even they have or will switch to an approach that includes moderation.

This picture is so beautiful to me because of its location–a beautiful breastfeeding photo in the kitchen. It is simple and stunning at the same time. Did you snap any great breastfeeding photos or do you have plans to? Looking back I wish I had….

You are welcome to join the Breastfeeding Support Group, Bosom Buddies; we try meet every Wednesday from 11-12:30 pm at the Community Center Room on the first floor of the Colts Neck Library,1 Winthrop Lane, Colts Neck, NJ.

The group is free and open to all breastfeeding mothers and babies. This is a mother lead group; meaning moms lead the discussions, pick the topics and everyone gets a chance to share. I merely serve as the group’s moderator and organizer (I volunteer my time). This is not a breastfeeding clinic and participation in the group cannot take the place of a lactation consultation/assessment. We are happy to lend support, encouragement, and share our knowledge and experiences with you. Please email me, Casi Leahy, when you plan on attending as we sometimes plan guest speakers and off site demo classes. I hope you are able to join us.

Reminder: We are not meeting this week; the library has its annual book sale. We will return on March 21st and hope to see everyone there.

Upcoming Dates:March 21 General MeetingMarch 28 General MeetingApril 4 General MeetingApril 11 NO MEETING (I have a state meeting for NJ Breastfeeding Coalition)April 18 General MeetingApril 25 General Meeting

Hope this snow is just the inch they are predicting; I am so ready for spring. ...